Liverpool fans got their first sighting of Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday as they faced Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.
The Reds woke up to tsunami warnings out in the Far East, but their game in Yokohama was given the green light to go ahead.
Excitement for the game was heightened after seeing Arne Slot name a strong Liverpool team after defeat against AC Milan on Saturday.
That included a first ever Reds appearance for Ekitike, who completed a £69m move from Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
The Frenchman featured for the first 45 minutes through the middle of Liverpool’s front three, coming close to scoring with an improvised, flicked effort at the front post.
Liverpool supporters were pleased with Ekitike’s efforts, and speaking at half-time, former Reds midfielder Jan Molby gave his verdict on what he’d seen from Slot’s newest addition.
Hugo Ekitike shows off striker attributes
Although they have signed Ekitike as a central option, Liverpool are still trying to buy Alexander Isak as well.
This has led to some intrigue over how Ekitike will be used, with the Frenchman himself suggesting that he likes to play as a versatile forward and sometimes with a strike partner.
Wednesday was the first look at how he could fit into Liverpool’s team, and speaking to LFCTV at half-time, Molby gave his initial verdict on what kind of striker Ekitike really is.
“I think he’s done ok,” said the Liverpool legend. “He’s a central striker and that area’s been crowded with Szoboszlai and Wirtz and the Japanese players in there, there’s not a lot of time.”
READ MORE: Why Ben Doak couldn’t play for Liverpool vs Yokohama F. Marinos after Everton transfer interest
“He seems a willing runner, wanting to threaten in behind and be dangerous in that way. As of yet he hasn’t quite had the chance, he had the backheel which was great improvisation, but it was not quite to be. He’s willing and trying to look for areas to try and influence the game.
“He’ll be almost over-excited, his first opportunity to play for Liverpool,” Molby added. “I’m sure he’s going to be fine, things will calm down and we’ll get on with the real stuff in the Premier League.”
Arne Slot hints at strongest XI
Throughout pre-season so far, Slot has been experimenting to a degree with the teams he has fielded.
On Wednesday, however, the chopping and changing came to a relative end. If this was the XI lining up for Liverpool’s opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League season, no one would be surprised.
Ekitike could be a part of that, and the fact that Slot threw his new player straight into the line-up shows the need to get him up to speed quickly.
Liverpool could sign Isak, of course, and Alexis Mac Allister will likely be a part of Slot’s strongest team moving forward.
Otherwise, though, the XI which started in Yokohama is perhaps the strongest available to the Reds at this moment in time. Ekitike is going to play a big part in that.
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